Background:
In 1782, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians.
In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of
treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a
British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in
1971. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf
countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign
affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves,
Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has
transformed itself into an international banking center. Sheikh
HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa, who came to power in 1999, has pushed
economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations
with the Shia community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved
a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of
Sheikh HAMAD's political liberalization program. In February 2002,
Sheikh HAMAD pronounced Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and
changed his status from amir to king. In October 2002, Bahrainis
elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted
bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Geography Bahrain
Location:
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined